Spinal Decompression and Spinal Fusion: Will You Need Surgery for Spinal Stenosis?

Most patients with spinal stenosis respond well to non-surgical treatments (such as medication), so you may not have to have surgery. However, there are situations when you may want to go ahead with spine surgery.

You've tried non-surgical treatments and they haven't been successful.

You've been in severe pain for a lengthy period of time.

You're experiencing radiculopathy, which is a medical term used to describe pain, numbness, and tingling in the arms or legs.

You've lost sensation in your arms or legs.

You have decreased motor strength in your arms or legs.

You've lost bowel or bladder control.

One main goal of spinal stenosis surgery is to free up area for your spinal cord and/or the nerve roots. That's called decompression. By giving your spinal cord and nerve roots more space to pass through, your spine surgeon hopes to decrease your pain from nerve inflammation.

Another goal of spinal stenosis surgery is to increase your motor strength in your arms or legs. If you've lost sensation in your arms or legs, your surgeon also hopes to restore that.

To remove the tissue that's pressing on a nerve, your spine surgeon may perform one of the following types of surgery.

Foraminotomy: If part of the disc or a bone spur (osteophyte) is pressing on a nerve as it leaves the vertebra (through an exit called the foramen), a foraminotomy may be done. Otomy means "to make an opening." So a foraminotomy is making the opening of the foramen larger, so the nerve can exit without being compressed.

Laminotomy: Similar to the foraminotomy, a laminotomy makes a larger opening, this time in your bony plate protecting your spinal canal and spinal cord (the lamina). The lamina may be pressing on your nerve, so the surgeon may make more room for the nerves using a laminotomy.

Laminectomy: Sometimes, a laminotomy is not sufficient. The surgeon may need to remove all or part of the lamina, and this procedure is called a laminectomy. This can often be done at many levels without any harmful effects.

Indirect decompression is a variation of decompression surgery where pressure is relieved by spreading the bones apart instead of removing bone. This can be done with instrumentation (hardware), such as interspinous process devices or interbody cages. Even artificial discs can accomplish some indirect decompression by restoring the height between adjacent vertebrae.

Stabilization Surgery for Spinal Stenosis

Not everyone who has surgery for spinal stenosis will need stabilization, which is also known as spinal fusion. It's especially helpful in cases where one or more vertebrae has slipped out of the correct position, which makes your spine unstable (and painful). In these cases, the bones slipping can pinch nerves. The need for stabilization also depends on how many vertebrae your surgeon needs to work on. For example, if he or she needs to remove the lamina (using a laminectomy) in multiple vertebrae, your spine may be unstable without those structures. You'll need to have spinal fusion to help stabilize your spine.

Spine stabilization surgery has been common for many years. It can be done alone or at the same time as a decompression surgery. In spine stabilization, the surgeon creates an environment where the bones in your spine will fuse together over time (usually over several months or longer). The surgeon uses a bone graft (usually using bone from your own body) or a biological substance (which will stimulate bone growth). Your surgeon may use spinal instrumentation—wires, cables, screws, rods, and plates—to increase stability and help fuse the bones. The fusion will stop movement between the vertebrae, providing long-term stability.

If your surgery is performed through a relatively large incision in your back, that's called open surgery. Another option is minimally invasive surgery, which is done through several small incisions. The surgeon may use a microscope, endoscope, or tiny camera and very small surgical instruments.

However, minimally invasive surgery is not for everyone. If your surgeon needs to work on many vertebrae, you'll probably need to have open surgery.

As with any operation, there are risks involved with surgery for spinal stenosis. Your doctor will discuss potential risks with you before asking you to sign a surgical consent form. Possible complications include, but are not limited to:

After your surgery, you aren't going to be instantly better. You will most likely be out of bed within 24 hours, and you'll be on pain medications for 2 to 4 weeks. After the surgery, you'll receive instructions on how to carefully sit, rise, and stand. It's important to give your body time to heal, so your doctor will probably recommend that you restrict your activities: In general, don't do anything that moves your spine too much. You should avoid contact sports, twisting, or heavy lifting while you recover.

After surgery, be vigilant. Report any problems—such as fever, increased pain, or infection-to your doctor right away.

You should always take good care of your body and practice healthy habits, but you should be especially healthy following surgery. You should: